- Lagos government debunks Sahara Reporters claim that Sanwo-Olu was asked to resign on health grounds.
- Governor shows no signs of ill health and remains active in his duties.
- Hamzat visited Sanwo-Olu on Monday to declare his 2027 governorship intention and secured the governor’s endorsement.
The Lagos State Government has dismissed as false a report by online platform Sahara Reporters claiming that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been asked to resign on health grounds, describing the publication as a deliberate act of disinformation.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, issued a statement late Monday evening rejecting the report in its entirety and urging the public to disregard it.
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“This report is false in its entirety. Nobody has asked the Lagos Governor to resign — this is another fake news, which has become a pattern of Sahara Reporters,” Akosile said. “Governor Sanwo-Olu remains in good health, of sound mind, and is actively discharging his duties as Governor of Lagos State.”
Sahara Reporters had published a story claiming that President Bola Tinubu and key figures in his inner circle were dissatisfied with the current leadership in Lagos and had moved to initiate a transition plan.
The report, attributed to unnamed presidency sources, alleged that the arrangement would see Sanwo-Olu resign, enabling his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, to complete the remainder of the tenure and position himself as a frontrunner for the 2027 governorship election.
Notably, Sanwo-Olu was seen in public on Monday as he held the hand of Hamzat in support of his governorship ambition. But there was no visible sign of ill health, calling into question the claim of resigning on the basis of health.
Akosile was unequivocal on this point, saying, “Governor Sanwo-Olu remains in good health, of sound mind, and is actively discharging his duties as Governor of Lagos State.”
The governor’s spokesperson also confirmed that Hamzat visited Sanwo-Olu on Monday to formally notify him of his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election, a visit that ended with the governor’s endorsement of his deputy’s ambition. Akosile described the meeting as having been held in a cordial atmosphere.
He noted that the government would ordinarily not dignify such a report with a response but said the need to reassure Lagosians made the statement necessary.
“While Sahara Reporters has a track record of publishing disinformation, we are issuing this clarification to prevent the public from being misled by deliberate falsehoods,” he said.
Hamzat’s 2027 governorship ambition was an open secret in Lagos political circles for months.
But he made it official on Monday following the endorsement of his principal. “I remain committed to building on the progress we’ve made together, and look forward to serving Lagosians with integrity, focus and a clear sense of purpose,” he said.
The deputy governor has received endorsements from key APC figures, including former Speaker of Lagos House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji and House of Representatives member James Faleke.
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Hamzat is widely regarded within party structures as the preferred successor to Sanwo-Olu, who is serving his second and final term and is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election.
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